Can seaming machine



Y Jan. -12, 1943; JjMlLLscm SEAMINGIMACHINIE Filed June 2, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: John/ JYL'Z Z5 AT ORNEYS.

Jan. 12,1943.

J. MIL-Ls cm sEAMmG macamr:

Fired June 2, 1959 -11 Sheets-Sheet 6 n INVENTOR: John 115225 63 ii TORNEYS Jan. 12; 1943. J. MILLS 2,308,296

' e m swarm MACHINE Filed June 2, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet a lllllllllll f lWlllll 1 INIiENTOR:

ohn [7121s BY Z ATiORNEi g' .inni:

:J. MILLS 2,308,296-

clm sswma MACHINE,

flied June 2, 19259 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 IVENTOR: ...f07zn 177225 AT ORNEYSQ fiam. 12,143. J. MILLS can smume mourns Filed June 2, 1959 11 Sheeta-Shget l1 plfllbl Ill clnl n l I oRNEYs.

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNETED STATES ATENT OFFHCE CAN SEAMING MACHINE John Mills, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Crown Can Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania 24 Claims.

The present invention relates to can seaming machines. More particularly, it relates to machines for securing flanged can end members to the flanged ends of cylindrical can bodies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which is particularly adapted to secure, by a double lock seam, convex end members to can bodies. In the past, can end mem' bers, such as sanitary can covers, have always been provided with a concave portion for the reception of an external chuck, adapted to serve as a support or reinforcing means to withstand the pressure of the seaming rolls.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine which will produce a double lock seam, similar in many respects to the sanitary seam joining a standard can body to a cover or end member having no concave portion therein. With certain types of receptacles, the annular grooves or other concave parts in the end members, provided to receive the external chucks, are disadvantageous, since they provide recesses where dirt, germs and filth may collect. Moreover, they detract materially from the appearance of the sealed container.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a machine which dispenses with the use of exterior chucks as backing means for the seaming rollers. By eliminating the exterior chucks, the concave portions in the end members may be eliminated and the tops made wholly convex, if desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine wherein a vertically reciprocable. internal mandrel for the can bodies is provided. To this end, means are provided for raising the mandrels and for projecting them through the open bottom ends of can bodies upwardly to a position opposite the upper ends thereof where they may support the side walls of the containers and the end members during the application of seaming pressure to the flanges at that end.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel means for so raising a mandrel and for projecting the same with great rapidity, upwardly through the can body.

The invention further provides a novel form of expansible mandrel so that, after it has been projected through the can body, anvil elements may be expanded into contact with the side wall of the body to support the same during the seaming operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of the character described which is fully automatic in its operation and which is.

relatively simple and inexpensive. To this end, a novel and simplified drive for the various instrumen-talities has been provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel seaming head, including an improved arrangement of seaming rolls, driving means therefor, controlling cams and the like.

Other and further objects and advantages of the machine of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art, from a consideration of the specific embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings and described below.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with certain parts broken away,

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, looking from the left of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view, with parts broken away,

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 of Figures 1 and 4,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation, partially in section, of certain parts, shown in a diiierent position in Figure 2,

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the mandrels and chucks, shown in a different position from the corresponding elements in Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a horizontal section on line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan and horizontal sectional view of the upper end of the mandrel of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 10,

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the seaming heads,

Figure 13 is a bottom plan View of a seaming head with the seaming rolls in inoperative position,

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, vertical section illustrating the relation of parts when the seaming rolls are in the position of Figure 13,

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 13, showing the first seaming rolls in operative position,

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 14, but showing the first seaming operation rolls at the conclusion of their work,

' Figure 17 is a view similar to Figures 13 and. 15,

but showing the finishing rolls in the operative position,

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figures 14 and 16, showing the operation of the finishing rolls,

Figure 19 is a fragmentary vertical section on line l9l8 of Figure 13,

Figure 20 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 2l20 of Figure 19,

Figures 21 to 30, both inclusive, are diagrammatic vertical sectional views representing successive steps in the cycle of operation of the machine, and

Figure 31 is a timing diagram.

General organization The machine comprises a main stationary base l0, upon which an upwardly projecting, central stationary column H is secured by bolts l2. Rotatably supported upon the column by bearings l 3, I4 is a lower table section l comprising a central sleeve I5, radial webs ll, upper and lower platforms l8, l9 and a skirt 20. These elements may be parts of a single integral casting, or they may be assembled from a plurality of independent parts. On the upper platform l8 of the lower table section, there is an upper table section 2!, having a base 22 bolted to the platform l8. At the outer edge of the base 22, the upper table section projects upwardly at 23, providing an intermediate cylindrical wall as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. At its upper end, this wall is turned outwardly to provide a horizontal platform 24 having openings in which the seaming head assemblies are mounted, as hereinafter described. At the outer edge of the platform 24, the table projects upwardly as at 25, providing a continuous cylindrical flange extending around the machine. A second, more elevated platform 25, provided with aligned openings to receive the seaming heads, projects inwardly from the upper edge of the skirt or flange '25. This upper platform is connected by inwardly and downwardly inclined arms 21 to an inwardly disposed annular platform spaced directly above thelower platform or base 22 of the upper table section. The arms 21, cylindrical walls 23 and 29, and the base 22, are interconnected by vertical webs 29, 30, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The base 22 and the annularplatform 3| provides supports for the lower and upper ends of stub shafts for certain planetary gears, hereinafter described.

The upper platform 25 of the upper table section 21 supports an annular, inwardly overhanging casting 35 having a cylindrical side wall and an upper flange 3B, in which certain parts of the seaming assemblies hereinafter described are secured.

Upon the base ii), there is mounted a stationary gear casing and cam track supporting assembly represented generally at 31. This assembly comprises a casing 38 for a main worm 39 in mesh with a worm follower 4B appropriately secured to the lower end of the rotatable column l6 by bolts 4| or the like. The worm 39 is driven by the main drive shaft 42 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6). The stationary housing member 37 also includes an upwardly projecting cylindrical wall 43, closely embracing an upwardly turned flange 44 integral with the rotatable column [6. At its upper end the wall 43 supports a horizontal arcuate track 45 by means of laterally projecting bracket arms 46. A plurality of strengthening webs 41 are provided with a horizontal flange 48, to which a lower cam track 49 is secured.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the tracks and 49, and the flange 48, are interrupted at the front of the machine. Here, the lower stationary housing member is shaped to provide ways 50, 5| (Fig. '7) for vertically reciprocating elevator mechanisms 52, 53. Between the ways and the vertically reciprocating elevators, there is bolted a bracket 54 having an outwardly projecting lower arcuate track section 55 associated therewith. The elevators are provided respectively with arcuate tracks, defined by lower flanges 5B, 51 and upper flanges 58, 59. As shown in Figure 6, the track sections of the elevators and the lower track section 55 of the bracket 54 .occupy the circumferential space between the ends of the arcuate track section 45, the sum of the several arcuate tracks being 360.

At the front forward side, the stationary base l0 (Figs. 2 and 4) is provided with a plurality of horizontally projecting bearing cradles for a crank shaft GI having cranks 62 disposed below and aligned with the elevators 52, 53. The cranks are connected to the elevators by pitmans 63, whereby rotation of the shaft 6| imparts reciprocating movement to the elevators in the ways 50, 5|. The crank BI is driven from the main drive shaft 42 by a gear train comprising spur gears 64, 65, 65 (Figs. 1 and 6). Since both the rotation of the table and the reciprocations of the elevator are controlled by the main drive shaft 42, these motions will be in predetermined timed relation to one another.

The outwardly projecting flanged portion 20 of the table is apertured to carry a plurality of depending sleeves 10 in which elongated mandrel holding frames ll (Figs. 4 and 8) are slidably mounted for vertical movement. ,Secured to the upper end of each holder is an expansible mandrel 12. The vertical positions of the holders and the mandrels are controlled by rollers 13 secured to the holders and supported upon the tracks 45,

' elevators 52, 53, or lower track 55.

The upper table section carries a plurality of seaming heads, one for each mandrel 12. Each seaming head includes a rotatable plate carrying a plurality of seaming rolls, a rotatable cam plate for controlling th seaming action of the rolls and a pair of axially aligned planetary pinions 1-5, 11 of slightly different diameter. The smaller pinion l5 imparts rotation to the seaming roll supporting plate I85, while the larger pinion imparts rotation in the same direction but at a slower speed to the cam disc 2 (Fig. 12), as explained in detail below.

Rotation is imparted to the pinions 16, H by means driven by the rotation of the table. The central stationary column ll carries at its upper end a stationary post 8!) which may be threaded to the upper end of the column and secured in place by lock nuts 8| or the like. Above the threaded portion, there is a stationary sungear 82 fined to the post 85. Above the stationary sun gear, there is a rotatable bracket 83 journalled about the post on appropriate ball bearings. The bracket 83 at its lower end carries a relatively small sun gear 84 and, at the outer ends of upwardly and outwardly projecting arms 85, a pair of coaxially arranged, enlarged sun gears 86, 81, in mesh, respectively, with the planetary pinions 16, 11. The enlarged sun gears 86, 81 are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table, by means of a plurality of pairs of interconnected planetary gears 88, 89 in mesh, respectively, with the stationary sun gear 82 and the small sun gear 84 carried'by the rotatable bracket 83. The inter:

connected planetary gears 88, 89 preferably have a common hub journalled upon stub shafts 90, the ends of which are secured, respectively, in the base 22 of the upper table section and the annular platform 3| spaced thereabove.

It should be noted that the stationary sun gear 82 has a radius substantially twice that of the small rotatable sun gear 84 (Figs. 4 and 5), and that the smaller planetary gear 88 has a radius substantially one-half that of the larger planetary gear 89. As a result of this relation of gear ratios, the small gear 88 will rotate relatively rapidly as it planetates about the fixed sun gear 82, during the rotation of the table. The planetary pinion 89, being of larger radius will have a greater peripheral speed, and, since its sungear 84 is smaller, it will be forced to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of its planetary gear 89 along its orbit. The direction of movement of the planetary gears along their orbit is controlled by the direction of rotation of the table. Hence, the sun gear 84 will rotate in the opposite direction, thereby imparting rotation to the sun gears 86, 8! in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table. As a result, the planetary pinions I6, I1 will be rapidly rotated as they revolve about the axis of the post 89 during the rotation of the table.

Above the annular, inwardly, over-hanging casting 35, a cover hood 91 (Fig. 4) may be supported. It should be noted that all of the driving gears are completely enclosed by the several table sections and the hood. Thus, the planetary and sun gears may be supplied with lubricant, for instance, by spray devices, supported from the cover or from the stationary cam track supporting bracket I63, hereinafter described, and the lubricant cannot escape to come in contact with the receptacles being seamed. The seaming heads, as pointed out below, are provided with bushings and packings which render them leakproof. The base 22 of the upper table section is imperforate and its inner peripheral edge is provided with an upstanding rib 92 to confine the lubricant supplied to the gears 88, 82, etc., outwardly thereof. However, some oil will overflow the rib 92 and will work its way inwardly to supply the bearings M, from whence it will flow or drip downwardly in the annular space between the inner column II and the rotatable column Hi. This lubricant will serve the lower bearings I9, and will then be collected in the gear casing 30. Here it will be added to the supply of lubricant for the worm 39 and the worm follower gear ti. Thus, all of the main driving parts of the machine are isolated from the elements on the exterior thereof, and it is impossible for the main body of lubricating oil to come in contact with the cans being seamed.

Infeed mechanism for can bodies and end members As shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, a forwardly projecting casing 95, supported upon the base I0, encloses driving means (not shown) for the blank feeding and take-out mechanisms, supported on an upper platform 96. The flanged can bodies 9! are delivered downwardly from an appropriate overhead conveyor to a receiving cage 98 with their axes disposed horizontally. Below the re ceiving cage, a horizontally disposed worm 99 engages the lowermost can body in the cage and moves the same inwardly toward the machine. A plurality of downwardly and laterally curved guide bars I00 engage the peripheries and ends of the cans moved along by the worm and change their positions from the horizontal to the upright.

As best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the rotatable table carries a pair of semi-circular brackets IOI, I02, bolted to the lower tabl section I5, each of which is shaped to provide a plurality of sockets I03 for the can bodies. The upper flange I04 is recessed to receive the bodies and is provided with a cut-back portion I05 to accommodate the flange on the upper end of the can body. The worm places each can body in one of the sockets I03 and a circumferential guide I06 (Fig. 5) temporarily holds the bodies therein after the table has carried them away from the worm.

The dome-shaped end members I01 are fed into the machine laterally by a continuous conveyor or the like until they reach a point aligned with a reciprocating infeed conveyor I08. From this point, the end members are fed, step by step, into the recessed seats I05 above the previously delivered can bodies, by the slide I08, driven by a continuously rotating crank disc I09 and the pitman IIO.

After the can bodies and end members have been seamed together, during a rotation of the table in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5), they are removed from the machine by a take-out guide or finger II5 (Fig. 5) which draws them outwardly into pockets II6 formed in the periphery of a continuously rotating dial 1. The cans collect on the discharge conveyor H8 and are forced therealong by the successive discharges of cans from the dial Ill.

The worm 99, the reciprocating slide I08 and the outfeed dial II! are all driven in predetermined timed relation to each other by mechanism disposed within the casing 95. Since that mechanism is not a part of the present invention, and since any appropriate driving arrangement may be employed, the specific details thereof are not shown. Preferably, however, the drive receives power from a driving chain II9, trained about a sprocket I20 on the crank shaft iii (Figs. 2, 3 and 5).

The mandrels, chucks and knock-Outs As pointed out above, the mandrels '12 are sup ported by vertically reciprocable supporting frames II, the vertical positions of which are controlled by rollers 13 on the several track sections. It should be understood that, during the infeed of can bodies and during the discharge of seamed cans, the associated mandrel is in the lowermost position, as represented at the left of Figure 4 and at the center of Figure 2. Before describing in detail the path of movement of the mandrels, the structure of one mandrel assembly will be described, reference being had particularly to Figures 4, 8-11.

Each mandrel holder 'II is provided, at its upper end with an internally and externally threaded, cylinder projection I25 of reduced diameter, into which the body of the mandrel I2 is screwed, at its lower end. A nut I26, screwed upon the external threads of the extension I25, is provided with an upper, inwardly projecting flange 821', overlying an outwardly projecting flange on the lower end of a sleeve I28, thereby limiting the upward movement of the sleeve under the influence of a plurality of coil springs I29 bearing against the undersurface of nuts I30, screwed upon the upper end of the sleeve. The upper face of the sleeve I28 is shaped to provide a circular seat I3I- for the lower end of a can body 91.

The hollow body of the mandrel 12 is provided adjacent its upper end with an enlarged bore I 32, in which a plurality of expansible anvil fingers I33 are pivotally mounted. Each finger has an outwardly projecting, shouldered portion I34, 8. depending tail piece I35, and a laterally projecting apertured nose I36, in which a ball bearing I31 is disposed, to serve as a means for facilitating pivoting movement of the fingers, and also to space them apart equally, circumferentially of the mandrel.

By reference to Figures 8, 14, 16 and 18, it will be noted that the outer face of each anvil finger I33, at the upper end, is provided with two sub stantially vertical surfaces. The upper face I34a closely fits a vertically disposed cylindrical portion of the cover I01. The lower vertical face I341: fits and supports the inner surface of the upper end of the can body, adjacent the flange thereof; Thus, the expansible fingers engage and reinforce the adjacent inner walls of both the end member and the can body.

The upper end face of the mandrel body is provided with a plurality of radially disposed V- bottomed grooves I38, and the undersurfaces of the shoulders I34 are complemental in shape, thereby further assuring that the fingers will be equally spaced, circumferentially of the mandrel, when expanded.

The mandrel assembly carries an elongated axially disposed rod I40, slidably mounted in the restricted, central portion of the mandrel body and guided in upper and lower sleeves I4I, I42 formed integrally with the mandrel holder (Figs. 4 and 8). Preferably, the rod is formed of two sections, threaded together at I43, and a compression spring I44 is disposed adjacent the lower end of the rod, between a collar I45 and the lower guide I42, to urge the rod to the uppermost position, as shown in Figure 4. The lower end of the rod carries a cam following roller I46, adapted to engage the cam track 49 to depress the rod I40 and expand the mandrel fingers I33.

At its upper end, the rod carries a wedge cam member I41 in the form of an inverted, truncated cone disposed to engage the downwardly and inwardly inclined rear faces I48 of the expansible fingers I33, whereby, when the cone is depressed, the fingers are pivoted about the axes of the nose projections I36, to project the fingers outwardly and expand the mandrel.

In the enlarged bore I32 adjacent the upper end of the mandrel, surrounding the rod I40, and slidable with respect thereto, there is a collar I49 urged upwardly by a compression spring I50 and having a frusto-conical upper surface I I disposed to engage the downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces I52 on the bottom ends of the tail pieces I associated with the fingers I33. The spring I and the collar I49 serve to retract the fingers I33 when the rod I40 is raised to permit such movement. I

Although the details of construction of the several seaming heads are described below, it should be noted at this point that each includes a centrally disposed concave chuck I55 (Fig. 12) fixedly secured to the lower end of a non-rotatable sleeve I56, supported at its upper end in the horizontal flange 36 of the casting 35 by means of screw threads I51 and a lock nut I58. Thus, the chuck I55 is secured against movement with respect to the rotatable table. A rod I59, slidably disposed in the sleeve I56, carries a cam following roller I at its upper end. The latter is disposed in a cam groove I6I, formed in the outer periphery of the rim 162 of a spider I63 secured upon the upper end of the stationary post 80 by a nut I64 or the like. At its lower end, the rod I59 is connected to a shaft I65 by a lost motion, pin and slot connection and a compression spring I66. Bolted to the lower end of the shaft I65, is a cap I61, having its lower face shaped to fit the upper end of the dome-shaped end member, as is clearly shown in Figures 8 and 12.

The lower peripheral edge of the chuck I56 is provided with a depending flange I68 (Figs. 8, 12, 14, 16 and 18) adapted to engage the upper face of the circumferential flange I69 of the end member I01. The inclined, conical, inner surface I10 of the chuck I55 may contact with the conical portion of the dome-shaped end member, or, if (le sired, it may be spaced slightly therefrom.

As shown in Figures 2 and 12, the connection between the vertical rod I59 and the cam following roller I60 comprises a horizontally elongated frame [60:1, carrying a stud 160b, upon which the roller is journalled. A bolt I600 serves to clamp the stud in the frame. When it is desired to change slightly the time of operation of the knock-out device, the cam track I6I may be 'shifted circumferentially of the machine by its supporting socket I03.

loosening the nut I64 and moving the spider I63 and the rim I62 relative to the stationary post 80.

The path of movement of the mandrels As pointed out above, when each can body is fed into the machine, the mandrel 12 which will carry it around the machine during the seaming operation is at its lowermost position, in order to permit the body to be moved laterally into The lowermost position of the mandrel is represented in the center of .Figure'2 and at the left of Figure 4. In this position, the roller 13 is supported upon the lower track section 55. As the table continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, the roller 13 approaches the position of the roller 13a in Figure '1, and, during that movement, the elevator 53 and the track 51 move downwardly, from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 7. The parts are so timed that, just as the elevator '53 reaches its lowermost position, the roller 13a moves off of the lower track 55 onto the elevator track 51. Simultaneously with the completion of this transfer, the elevator 53 commences to rise. At this time, the can body is being held firmly in its socket by theguide I06 (Fig. 5). As the elevator rises, the mandrel associated with the roller 13a is projected upwardly through the open bottom end thereof, until the seat I3I (Fig. 8) engages the lower flanged end thereof, whereupon the can body and the end member which has previously been positioned thereabove, rise with the mandrel. The knock-out cap I61 had previously been lowered upon the end member I01, immediately after the latter was fed into the seat I05, and the spring I66 in the knock-out rod connection applies a resilient clamping force upon the end member and can body. The descent of the knock-out cap I61 and rod I66 to the clamping position was effected by the lowermost portion I6Iaof the cam track I6I (Fig. 2) engaging the cam roller assembly I60. The upward movement of the mandrel and the can body and end member supported thereby, serves to raise the knock-out cap I61, this motion being permitted by the, vertically widened portion I6Ib of the cam track I6I When the elevator 53-has reached its upper limit 'of movement, as shown in Figure 2, the

roller will be in the position represented by the roller 13b at the left end of the elevator track 51. The rotation of the table serves to transfer the roller from the elevator to the forward end of the track 35. At this point, the mandrel is in its uppermost position and the can body is clamped firmly between the flange I69 of the end member and the seat ISI on the upper end of the sleeve E28. Immediately upon completion of the transfer of a roller 13 from the elevator track 51 to the upper track section 45, the roller I45 on the lower end of the mandrel expanding rod I40 is engaged by the inclined end of the cam track 49, thereby pulling the rod I56 downwardly and expanding the anvil fingers 13 i outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the can body and end member to provide a support for th seaming rolls hereinafter described.

As the mandrels proceed around the machine, the end members are seamed to the can bodies, and, when the rollers 13 reach the position of the rollers 130 (Fig. 2), the seaming operation has been completed, and the can is ready to be discharged from the machine. However, before this can be done, it is necessary for the associated mandrel to be withdrawn from the interior of the body. Just before the roller reaches the position represented at 130 in Figure 2, the roller I46, associated with that mandrel, has passed over the rear end of the cam track 49, thereby permitting the spring I44 to raise the mandrel expanding rod I40 and enabling the coil spring I50 to urge the conical collar I 49 upwardly to retract the fingers I33 from out of contact with the can body and end member.

Simultaneously with the completion transfer of the roller 130 (Fig. 2) from the track 45 to the elevator 52, the latter is pulled downwardly by the associated crank 52. The roller is held between the tracks 55, 53, and the mandrel is quickly lowered to the level of the track 55. Of course, during the lowering movement, the table continues to rotate, and the roller 13c moves to the opposite end of the track 56, to the position represented by the roller 13d in Figure '1. At that point, the continued rotation of the table transfers the roller 13d to the track 55, where it travels in the lowered position until it reaches the point represented by the roller 13a, whereupon the cycle of operation is repeated.

The seaming heads The upper table section 2|, between the platforms 24, 26 is provided with a plurality of tubular sockets I15, preferably cast integrally therewith. In the embodiment shown, there are nine such sockets, each having a complete seaming head assembly associated therewith. Since all of the seaming heads are identical in construction, only one will be described.

As shown in Figure 12, a bearing sleeve I16, disposed in the socket I15 carries ball bearing assemblies I11 and I18 spaced apart by a sleeve I19. A pair of concentric sleeves I85, Ilil are journalled within the bearings, surrounding the fixed sleeve I55, surrounding the knock-out rod I59. On its upper end, the inner sleeve I8I carries the planetary pinion gear 15, secured thereon by a bolt I82. At its lower end, the inner sleeve I8I is flanged outwardly and downwardly at I83 and a ball bearing assembly I8 5 is interposed between the same and the chuck I55, to facilitate relative rotation'between the sleeve I8I and the chuck, and to prevent downward movement of the sleeve with respect to the supporting sleeve I56, threaded to the flange 35.

Bolted to the lower face of the flange portion I83 of the inner rotatable sleeve I3I is a seaming roll supporting plate I85, provided with appropriate apertures carrying downwardly projecting studs IBG, I81, upon which a pair of hell cranks I88, I89 are fulcrumed and held in place by cap and bolt assemblies I99, I9l. As shown in Figures 13, 15 and 17, each bell crank comprises a short, heavy, rigid arm I92 and a slightly longer, thin, relatively resilient arm I93. Each rigid arm I92 carries a first seaming roll, or roughing roll I94, while each resilient arm I93 carries a second or finish seaming roll I95. Preferably, the rolls are mounted in accordance with the structure shown in Figures 19 and 20. The end of each arm is apertured to receive a sleeve I96 having an exterior cylindrical surface closely fitting the inner face of the bore in the arm. Each sleeve I96 has an internal ececntric bore I91. A headed stud I58, threaded in the eccentric bore, carries a bearing assembly I99, upon which a seaming roll I94 or I95 is journalled. A spacing washer 200 is preferably interposed between the upper end of the bearing assembly and the lower face of the arm and eccentric sleeve. Each arm is provided with a horizontal, transverse bore 201, intersecting the vertical bore in which the eccentric sleeve I95 is disposed. A bolt 202, having an arcuate recess 253, is disposed in the bore, with the face of the recess in contact with the periphery of the eccentric sleeve I95. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with a plurality of indicating characters 204, visible through a slot 2.05 in the end of the arm.

When it'is desired to adjust the position .of a seaming roll with respect to its supporting arm, the nut 296 on the end of the bolt 252, may be loosened and the eccentric sleeve rotated, thereby shifting the position of the stud I58. When the desiredindicating mark 204 has been brought to the appropriate position, the bolt 295 is again tightened, thereby jamming the arcuate surface 203 against the periphery of the eccentric sleeve and securing the latter and the seaming roll in the proper adjusted position.

The outer rotatable sleeve I of the seaming head carries, at its upper end, the planetary pinion 11, bolted thereto by a nut 2H]. At its lower end the sleeve IBI is provided with a laterally extending flange 2II 'which acts as a cam plate, in cooperation with a cam ring ZIZ bolted thereto. The cam groove 2 I4 is provided between the outer edge face 2I5 of the central portion of the cam plate and the inner face 2I5 of the ring 2I2.

It should be noted that the inner and outer rotatable sleeves IBI, I80 are separated by upper and lower bushings IBIla, I 8% which serve as spacing means for the sleeves and prevent the passage .of lubricating oil downwardly therebetween. A packing ring I18a is arranged below the lower ball bearing assembly I18, between the cam plate 2 and the retaining ring for the bearing assembly, bolted to the underface of the sleeve I16. This construction renders the seam- .ing head driving means and bearings lubricant leakproof.

The rigid arm I92 of each bell crank, above its upper surface, carries a cam following roll 211 disposed in the cam groove 2M. It should be noted that the seaming roll supporting plate I is relatively long and narrow and that the bell cranks are pivoted to the ends thereof. The cam edges of the plate and the latter may be recessed as at 2 I 8 to provide sufiicient space for the swinging movement of the rolls.

As pointed out above, the upper planetary pinion I6 is slightly smaller than the lower planetary pinion 11. Hence, during the operation of the machine, the upper gear will rotate slightly faster than the lower, with the result that the seaming roll supporting plate will rotate slightly faster than the cam plate. In the embodiment illustrated, the seaming roll supporting mechanism will, during a complete rotation of the table, make one-half of a revolution more than the cam plate 2I I. The main table rotates clockwise and the seaming heads rotate in the same direction as they revolve about the axis of the table. Since Figures 13, and 17 are bottom plan views, the parts should be considered as rotating counter-clockwise. During a complete rotation of the machine, the bell crank I89 will move, relative to the cam plate, from the position shown in Figure 13, through the positions shown in Figures 15 and 17, and, at the conclusion of a single rotation of the table, it will be in I the position of the bell crank I88 in Figure 13. In Figure 13, all four of the seaming rolls are disposed in neutral, inoperative position, outwardly with respect to the chuck I55. In Figure 15, the cam following rolls 2I1 have been drawn radially inwardly, thereby bringing the first seaming operation rolls, or roughing rolls I94, into operation, as shown in Figure 16. These rolls have a substantially semi-circular groove 220 in their peripheries and, as they approach the flanges of the end member and can body, and roll around the same, they curl the flanges into sub stantially tubular form shown in Figure 16.

As the relative rotation of the seaming roll supporting plate I85 and the cam plate 2 continues, the cam following rolls 2I'I engage an outwardly turned portion 22I of the cam groove 2I4, with the result that the bell cranks are pivoted on their fulcrums, the roughing rolls I94 are moved outwardly, and the finishing rolls I95 are I moved inwardly into contact with the curled seam. The finishing rolls I95 are provided with peripheral grooves 222 having substantially flat bottoms, with the result that the curled seam is folded flat, to form a double lock seam 223, as shown in Figure 18.

The finishing rolls I95 are mounted on the ends of relatively thin, elongated arms I93. The bell cranks are preferably made of strong, resilient steel. As a result, the arms I93 are sufiiciently resilient to permit the finishing rolls to ride over the extra thickness of the seam. at the area where the side seam of the can body joins the top seam. In the past, difliculty has been encountered in securing a satisfactory seam at this point of junction, but as a result of the present construction, a substantially constant seaming pressure is applied to the flanges entirely around the can, including the area at the side seam.

M ethod of operation Although the operation of the machine should be clear to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the foregoing description, attention is directed to Figures 21-31 for a more complete understanding of the sequence of steps.

Figure 21 shows the position of certain of the parts at the beginning of the cycle, as represented by point 250 in Figure 31. At this time, the mandrel is in the lowermost position, with the following rolls 2" project upwardly beyond the roller I3 supported on the lower track section 55. The rod I40 in the mandrel has been raised by the spring I 44, since the roller I46 is now out of engagement with the cam. track 49. Hence, the fingers I33 are retracted. The can body 91 has been fed into its supporting socket I03. The seaming rolls are in the neutral position, out of engagement with the flanges to be seamed, in the position shown in Figure 13. The knock-out cap I6! is in the intermediate position, ascontrolled by the intermediate section Mile of the cam I5 I.

Figure 22 represents the parts at point 25I in Figure 31. The mandrel I2 is ascending by virtue of the action of the elevator 53. The can end I01 is in place, supported upon the seat I05. It is resiliently clamped down upon the seat by the knock-out plunger I31 which is now in the lowermost position, as controlled by the low portion IfiIa of the cam IEI. The mandrel is still collapsed and the seaming rollers are still inactive.

Figure 23 shows the parts at point 252, Figure 31. The mandrel I2 has completed its upward movement and is now supported with the roller IS on the track 45. The can body is now clamped between the flange of the end member I01 and the resilient seat I28. Th mandrel is still contracted, and the knock-out plunger is in the upper position, since the roller I 60 has been projected upwardly in the cut-out portion I6Ib of the cam IBI.

Figure 24 shows the parts substantially at point 253, the only change bein that themandrel expanding rod I40 has been drawn downwardly by the action of the roller I46 engaging th undersurface of the cam track 40. As a result, the fingers I33 have been expanded to support the inner surface of the can body and the end member.

In Figure 25, point 254 (Fig. 31) in the cycle of operation has been reached. The first seaming operation rolls (roughing rolls I94) have been brought into operation and the flanges on the can body and end member ar being curled inwardly. This relation of parts is illustrated in Figures 15 and 16. The bell cranks have been shifted by the cam following rolls 2 IT in the cam groove 2I4.

In Figure 26, the finish seaming rolls I 95 are in operation, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. This point in the cycle is represented at 256 in Figure 31, the area between the point 255 and 256 being taken up by the shifting of the bell cranks by the curved portion 22 I in the cam groov 2I4.

The finish seaming operation continues until point 251 is reached, where, as shown in Figure 27, the seaming rolls are again moved to the neutral position. This movement is effected by the curved portion 225 in the cam groove 2I4 (Figs. 15 and 1'7) which shifts the bell crank lever, as required. The seaming operation has now been completed and the can is ready to be discharged from the machine.

At point 258, the mandrel is collapsed by the action of the roller I 46 on the lower end of rod I40 running off the end of the track 49. This relation of parts is shown in Figure 27.

Immediately thereafter, and at point 259, the mandrel starts to descend, by the action of the roller I3 moving onto the elevator 52, as shown at I30 in Figure 2. The descending mandrel is shown in Figure 28.

As soon as the chuck has descended a slight distance, the knock-out plunger I6! is depressed by the portion I Iilc of the track I6I, thereby freeing the can from the concave chuck I 55. The can drops down and is supported by the seat I05.

This action occurs at point 260 in the timing diagram (Fig. 31) and is substantially represented in Figure 29, except that the descent of th mandrel is shown as having been completed.

Figure 30 shows the take-out finger H5 withdrawing the seamed can from the socket I03. This action is represented at point 26| in Figure 31. The parts remain in this position until the point 258 is reached, when the cycle of operation is repeated.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, by reference to the specific embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, but covers all machines and parts thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A can forming machine comprising a base having a stationary column projecting upwardly therefrom, a table rotatable about the column, a plurality of seaming instrumentalities rotatably mounted in the table, and means for rotating said instrumentalities, said means comprising a fixed sun gear on the column, a plurality of pairs of coaxially interconnected planetary gears carried by the table with one gear of each pair in mesh with the fixed sun gear, a rotatable sun gear journalled on the column in mesh with the other planetary gear of each pair and rotated thereby, and means for transmitting rotation from the movable sun gear to said seaming instrumentalities.

2. A can seaming machine comprising a base having a stationary column projecting upwardly therefrom, a table mounted for rotation about the column, a sun gear mounted for rotation about the column, means for rotating the table in one direction, means driven by the table for rotating the sun gear in the opposite direction, a plurality of seaming instrumentalities carried'by the table, each including a planetary pinion in mesh with said sun gear, said means for rotating the sun gear comprising a stationary sun gear on the column, a third sun gear mounted for rotaticn about the column and connected to the first sun gear, and a plurality of pairs of coaxially, inter-connected planetary gears carriedby the table, one gear of each pair being in mesh with the stationary sun gear and the other with the third sun gear,

3. A can seaming machine comprising a base having a stationary column projecting upwardly therefrom, a table mounted for rotation about the column, a pair of sun gears mounted for and connected to said pair of sun gears, and a plurality of pairs of coaxial, interconnected planetary gears carried by the table, one gear of each pair being in mesh with the stationary sun gear and the other with the third sun gear.

4. A can making machine comprising a stationary column, a rotatable table mounted thereon, seaming instrumentalities on the table comprising pairs of planetary gears, and means for driving said gears, said means comprising a spider rotatably mounted on said column, a pair of sun gears carried by the spider in mesh with the planetary gears, and means deriving movement from the rotation of said table for rotating the spider and the sun gears in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the table, said last-mentioned means comprising a relatively large stationary sun gear on the column, a relatively small sun gear fixed to and rotatable with the spider, a plurality of pairs of coaxial, interconnected planetary gears carried by the table, each pair comprising a small gear in mesh with the fixed sun gear and a relatively largegear in mesh with the sun gear on the spider.

5. A can seaming machine comprising a base, a table rotatably mounted thereon, a, plurality of seaming heads carried by the table, a plurality of vertically movable, radially expansible mandrels carried by the table, one for each seaming head, means on the table for supporting a plurality of can bodies, one in alignment with each mandrel, means for projecting the mandrels upwardly through the open bottom ends of can bodies on the table, means for radially expanding the upper end portions of the mandrels into contact with the interior surfaces of the can bodies at the upper ends thereof, means rendering the seaming heads operative to scam the upper ends of the can bodies, means for radially contracting the mandrels, and means for lowering the same downwardly through the open bottom ends of the can bodies at the conclusion of the seaming operations.

6. ,A can seaming machine comprising a base, a table rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of seaming heads carried by the table, a plurality of vertically movable, radially expansible mandrels carried by the table, one for each seaming head, means for projecting the mandrels upwardly through the lower open ends of the can bodies on the table to a level opposite the upper ends thereof, means for radially expanding the mandrels into firm supporting contact with the interiors of the upper ends of the bodies, and means rendering the seaming head operative thereafter to seam end members to the upper ends of the can lbodies while so supported."

7. A can seaming machine comprising a rotatable table having a plurality of sets of double seaming rolls mounted thereon, means for positioning can bodies and end members opposite the seaming rolls, a plurality of radially expansible internal mandrels, one for each set of seaming rolls, means for projecting the mandrels upwardly through the open bottoms of the can bodies into positions opposite the seaming rolls, means for radially expanding the mandrel into contact with the interior of the bodies opposite the rolls, means rendering the rolls effective for seaming the end members to the can bodies, means for radially contracting the mandrel, and means for withdrawing the mandrel through the open bottom ends of the bodies.

8. In a machine for seaming dome-shaped end members to the upper ends of can bodies, a mandrel, means for projecting the mandrel upwardly through the open bottom end'of a can body held in the machine and into the lower end of an associated end member, means for supporting the lower end of the can body and for clamping the end member downwardly upon the upper end of the body, a plurality of expanding anvil elements at the upper end of the mandrel, means urging the anvil members radially outwardly into engagement with'the inner surface of the end member and of the body adjacent the upper end thereof, seaming rolls, and means rendering the same effective to seam the end member to the body while so engaged.

9. A can seaming machine comprising means for holding a can body, means for clamping an end member upon one end of the can body by endwise pressure, a mandrel, means for inserting the same into the interior of the can body from the opposite open end while held by said holding means, said mandrel having an expansible part, means for urging the same radially outwardly into supporting contact with the interior of the end member and of the body along the line of contact between the two, and means for seaming the end member and body while so supported.

10. A can seaming machine comprising a stationary base, a rotatable table, a plurality of seaming heads on the table, a plurality of vertically movable mandrels mounted on the table for cooperation with the interiors of can bodies and with the seaming heads, and means for;coritrolling the vertical positions of the mandrels relative to the can bodies and seaming'heads, said means comprising a stationary upper track, a stationary lower track, an elevator, and track following mens associated with each mandrel, said elevator comprising vertically reciprocating track means adapted to transfer said track following means from the level of one stationa track to the other. i

11. A can seaming machine comprising a stationary base, a rotatable table, a plurality of seaming heads on the table, a plurality of vertically movable mandrels mounted on the table for cooperation with the interiors of can bodies and with the seaming heads, and means forcontrolling the vertical position of the mandrels relative to the can bodies and seaming heads, said means comprising an upper track, a lower track, an elevator, and track following means associated with each mandrel, said elevator comprising a pair of spaced track sections, one adapted to lower the track followers from the upper section to the lower section, and the other to raise the followers from the lower section to the upper.

12. A can seaming machine comprising a stationary base, a table rotatably mounted thereon and carrying a plurality of seaming heads and vertically reciprocable mandrels for the interiors of can bodies, means for holding can bodies in alignment with the mandrels, means for raising the mandrels to project them through the open bottom ends of can bodies into an upper-position adjacent the upper ends thereof, means for maintaining the mandrels in the elevated position during the performance of seaming operations, means for thereafter lowering the mandrels to permit lateral discharge of the seamed can bodies, means for maintaining the mandrels in the lowered position to permit lateral infeed of new bodies to be seamed, said mandrel moving and maintaining means comprising rollers carried by the mandrels, an upper track section, a lower track section, a pair of spaced vertically reciprocable track sections, rollers carried by the mandrels and disposed to travel along said track sections, and means for reciprocating the movable track sections :to lower one roller from the upper track section to the lower track section and, immediately thereafter, to raise another roller from the lower track section to the upper-one. V

13. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like comprising a base, a substantially'horizontal, arcuate track on said,base atone level, a second arcuate track at another lever, a vertically movable elevator having a track section aligned with the first-mentioned track section at one of its limits of movement and With the other track section at the other limit of movement, a rotary table on said base, a plurality of seaming heads and vertically movable mandrel assemblies carried thereby, each assembly including a track following roller, and means for reciprocating the elevator as it receives a roller from the first track to shift the same to the level of the second track and lower the associated mandrel, said reciprocating means serving to return the elevator to its original position as soon as said roller is transferred to the second track.

14. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a pair of fixed arcuate track sections supported thereon at different levels with their adjacent ends circumferentially spaced apart, a pair of vertically movable arcuate track sections in the spaces between the ends of the fixed sections and circumferentially aligned therewith, a rotatable table on the base, a plurality of seaming heads and vertically movable mandrel assemblies on the table, each assembly including an element disposed to travel along and to be supported by the track sections during rotation of the table, one of said vertically movable track sections serving to transfer the elements successively from the level of one fixed track section to the other and to correspondingly shift the elevation of the mandrels, and the other movable track section serving to transfer the elements successively from the latter level back to' the level of the first-mentioned fixed track section and to restore the mandrels to their original elevation.

15. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a pair of fixed arcuate track sections supported thereon at different levels with their adjacent ends circumferentially spaced apart, a pair of vertically movable arcuate track sections in the spaces between the ends of the fixed sections and circumferentially aligned therewith, a rotatable table on the base, a plurality of seaming heads and vertically movable mandrel assemblies on the table,"each assembly including an element disposed to travel along and to be supported by the track "sections'during rotation of the table, one of said vertically movable track sections serving to lower the elements successively from the upper fixed track'section to the lower and to lower the associated mandrels correspondingly, the other movable track'section serving to raise the elements successively from the lower fixed track section to the upper and to raise the associated mandrels to their original elevation.

' 16. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a pair of fixed arcuate track sections supported thereon at different levels with their adjacent ends circumferentially spaced apart, a pair of vertically movable arcuate track sections in the spaces .between the ends of the fixed sections and circumferentially aligned therewith, a rotatable table on the base, a plurality of seaming heads and vertically movable mandrel assemblies on the table, each assembly including an element disposed to, travel along and to be supported by the track sections during rotation of th table, the elements being so spaced about the table with reference to the movable track sections that,

as one element moves onto one movable section,

another element moves off of the other movable section, whereby on each strokeof the movable sections in each direction, an element is transferred from the level of one fixed section to the other and the associated mandrels are correspondingly lowered and raised.

17. In a can seaming machine, a downwardly facing concave chuck shaped to receive a convex can end member, a mandrel aligned with the chuck, means for holding a can body in alignment with the mandrel, means for inserting the mandrel into an aligned can body through the lower open end thereof, a spring-pressed seat for the lower end of the body disposed to urge the upper end of the body against the end member positioned in the chuck, means for expanding the upper end of the mandrel into contact with the inner surface of the body and end member to brace the same, and means for seaming the end member to the body while so braced.

18. In a can seaming machine, a downwardly facing concave chuck shaped to receive a convex can end member, a vertically reciprocable plunger in the upper end of the chuck, a mandrel aligned with the chuck, means for holding a can body in alignment with the mandrel, means for inserting the mandrel into an aligned can body through the lower open end thereof, a spring-pressed seat for the lower end of the body disposed to urge the upper end of the body against the end member positioned in the chuck, means for expanding the upper end of the mandrel into contact with the inner surface of the body and end member to brace the same, means for seaming the end member to the body while so braced, and means operative thereafter for actuating said plunger to knock-out the seamed can from the chuck.

19. In a machine for seaming flanged domeshaped end members to the flanged upper ends of can bodies, a concave, downwardly facing chuck shaped to receive such an end member and to engage the circumferential flange thereof, a mandrel aligned with the chuck, means for holding a can body in alignment with the mandrel, means for projecting the mandrel upwardly through the open bottom end of a can body aligned therewith, means for urging the can body upwardly to clamp the flange at the upper end thereof against the flange on the end member, means for expanding the end of the mandrel outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the end member and the inner surface of the can body adjacent said flanges, and exteriorly dis-' posed seaming rolls for rolling and bending the flanges into a double seam.

20. In a machine for seaming flanged domeshaped end members to the flanged upper ends of can bodies, a concave, downwardly facing chuck shaped to receive such an end member and to engage the circumferential flange thereof, a mandrel aligned with the chuck, means for holding a can body in alignment with the mandrel, means for projecting the mandrel upwardly through the open bottom end of a can body aligned therewith, means for urging the can body upwardly to clamp the flange at the upper end thereof against the flange on the end member, means for expanding the end of the mandrel outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the end member and the inner surface of the can body adjacent said flanges, exteriorly disposed seaming rolls for rolling and bending the flanges into a double seam, means for contracting the shaped to receive an end member, a Vertically I reciprocable mandrel aligned therewith, means for holding a can body in alignment with the mandrel, means for projecting the mandrel upwardly through the open bottom end of a can body, and for clamping the flanged upper end thereof against the flange of the end member, means for expanding the mandrel into contact with the end member and can body adjacent said flanges, means for rolling the flanges into a double lock seam, and means to expel the seamed cans from the chuck.

22. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a table rotatable on the base about a Vertical axis, a drive shaft for continuously'rotating the table, a crank journalled on the base, a substantially horizontal, fixed track on said base, an elevator mounted for vertical movement on said base from the level of said track to a different level, a connection between said elevator and said crank for reciprocating the elevator upon rotation of the crank and during rotation of the table, a vertically movable mandrel assembly carried by the table including a track follower, a seaming head carried by the table and positioned above the mandrel assembly and means for rotating the crank in timed relation to the rotation of the drive shaft and the table, whereby said elevator may receive thetrack follower from the stationary track and change the elevation thereof and of the associated mandrel during a reciprocating movement of the elevator and during movement of the follower with the table.

23. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a table mounted for rotation thereon about a vertical axis, a plurality of seaming heads on the table, a stationary arcuate track on said base, a second stationary arcuate track at another level on said base, means for rotating the table, a horizontally disposed crank journalled on the base, a vertically movable elevator, connections between the crank and the elevator for reciprocating the latter from a position aligned with the first-mentioned track section to a position aligned with the second track, a plurality of sets of vertically movable mandrel assemblies carried by the table, each including a track follower member movable along said sections and said elevator during rotation of the table and a mandrel connected thereto, and means deriving movement from said table rotating means for rotating the crank to change the level of said track follower from one track section to the other while on the elevator and to change the elevation of the mandrel correspondingly.

24. A machine for seaming end closures upon receptacles or the like, comprising a base, a pair of fixed arcuate track sections supported thereon 

